well
well — verb
- wellpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wells3rd person singular
- welling-ing form
- welledpast simple
1. When a liquid wells, it moves gradually upward through something until it reache
When a liquid wells, it moves gradually upward through something until it reaches the surface and becomes visible, or it seeps out slowly from inside.
Tears welled in Yael's eyes as she said goodbye to her grandmother at the station.
well + in [body part]: tears well in eyes
Blood welled up from a small cut on Hao's finger after he touched broken glass.
well up from a wound
Indra felt anger well up inside him when he read the unfair review.
Water welled out of a crack in the old stone wall after the heavy rain.
Sophia watched a clear liquid well slowly from a gash on the dog's leg.
文法句型
well + (up)
well + out of/from/in
well up + inside/in
用法筆記
Subject is usually a liquid or an emotion, and 'well up' is far more common than bare 'well' in everyday use. For physical liquids the focus is on gradual upward movement to the surface; for emotions the movement is inside a person's body or mind.
常見錯誤
well — noun
- wellsingular
- wellsplural
1. a narrow, deep hole dug or drilled into the ground so that people can reach wate
a narrow, deep hole dug or drilled into the ground so that people can reach water, oil, or natural gas that lies underground.
Asher lowered a bucket into the village well to fetch water for cooking.
lower + bucket + into + well — physical movement collocation
The oil company drilled a new well on the edge of the desert last spring.
During the dry season, the well behind the school provides clean drinking water.
The farmers dug a shallow well near the river to irrigate their crops.
Apinya's grandfather built the family well by hand in the 1950s.
用法筆記
The type of resource is often specified before the word, as in oil well, gas well, or water well.
常見錯誤
2. a natural flow of water rising up from the ground; or a place, person, or thing
a natural flow of water rising up from the ground; or a place, person, or thing that provides a steady supply of something useful, such as ideas, information, or emotional strength.
A natural well in the forest provides cold, fresh water to hikers all year round.
natural well — a spring, not a man-made hole
Grandmother was an endless well of folk tales from her childhood in Korea.
be + a well of + [abstract noun] — metaphorical source
When Roya felt hopeless, she discovered a deep well of courage inside herself.
The mountain well has supplied the village with clean water for over a hundred years.
- drain
something that removes or uses up rather than supplies
用法筆記
The figurative meaning ('a source of something intangible') frequently appears in literary or descriptive writing. When used literally, it refers to a natural spring rather than a man-made structure.
常見錯誤
well — adjective
- wellpositive
- bettercomparative
- bestsuperlative
1. in a state of being healthy, especially after a period of illness, injury, or di
in a state of being healthy, especially after a period of illness, injury, or discomfort — if you are well, your body is working normally and you feel no pain or sickness.
After a week in hospital, Yuki finally felt well enough to go home.
well enough to [do something]
The doctor told Mira she was well now and could return to work on Monday.
be + well after illness
Kwame asked his grandmother how she was, and she said she was very well.
Élise stayed home from school because she did not feel well this morning.
Iris had a bad cold last week, but she is completely well again now.
文法句型
be/feel/look/seem + well
well enough + to-infinitive
not well (meaning ill)
用法筆記
Well as an adjective is almost always used after a linking verb (be, feel, look, seem), not directly before a noun. You cannot say 'a well person' in standard English — use 'someone who is well' instead.
常見錯誤
2. sensible, wise, or advantageous as a course of action — suggesting that doing so
sensible, wise, or advantageous as a course of action — suggesting that doing something is a good idea because it avoids problems or brings a better result.
It would be well to check the weather before setting out on a long hike.
it would be well to [do something]
Antonia thought it well to save part of her salary each month for emergencies.
think it well to [do something]
It is well to remember that first impressions can sometimes be misleading.
Defne told the team it would be well to review the safety rules first.
文法句型
it is well + to-infinitive
it would be well + to-infinitive
it is well + that-clause
用法筆記
This sense appears almost exclusively in fixed patterns beginning with 'it' + 'be' + 'well' — 'it is well to...', 'it would be well to...', or 'it is well that...'. It is more formal than 'it is a good idea to...' and sounds slightly old-fashioned in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
well — adverb
1. in a way that meets a high standard or shows skill — used for how someone does s
in a way that meets a high standard or shows skill — used for how someone does something, how something works, or how a situation turns out.
Eliska plays the piano well for someone who has only been learning for a year.
well + verb (modifies action)
The garden is well looked after by the neighbours while the owners travel.
well + past participle (compound adjective)
Ari writes well, but his real strength is speaking in front of a crowd.
The two teams worked well together and finished the project early.
- properly
implies correctness of method rather than skill level
- correctly
focuses on accuracy, not overall quality
- satisfactorily
more formal, suggests meeting minimum expectations
- badly
opposite in terms of quality or skill
文法句型
well + verb (after verb or object)
well + past participle (in compound adjectives)
用法筆記
Commonly follows the verb it modifies (e.g. 'She sings well'), but can also appear before a past participle in compound adjectives ('well-written', 'well-known').
常見錯誤
2. reaching a high level or the full amount of something — used after verbs about k
reaching a high level or the full amount of something — used after verbs about knowing, remembering, mixing, or other actions where the result can be total.
Kabir has known the Watanabe family well for over fifteen years.
well + known (knowledge relationship)
Christopher remembers that rainy afternoon well because he lost his keys.
Shake the bottle well before opening it for the first time.
Before you decide, think well about all the costs involved.
The meat needs to be well cooked before anyone can eat it safely.
- thoroughly
emphasises completeness more than degree
- fully
stresses that nothing is left out
- completely
stronger sense of entirety
文法句型
well + verb (know, remember, understand)
well + past participle
用法筆記
Frequently pairs with verbs of mental state (know, understand, remember) and physical processes (mix, shake, cook). Cannot be used with all verbs — 'well ran' or 'well bought' are ungrammatical.
常見錯誤
3. used before certain prepositions to emphasise that the distance, amount, or time
used before certain prepositions to emphasise that the distance, amount, or time mentioned is much more or much less than expected.
The total cost of the wedding was well within the budget they had planned.
well + within (emphasises comfortable margin)
Tariro arrived well after midnight, so everyone had already gone to bed.
The temperature in Sapporo stayed well below zero for the whole week.
Ziad's apartment is well past the train station, about three more stops.
The price of the house is well above what Manuela can afford right now.
文法句型
well + preposition (within, past, above, below, after, before, beyond)
用法筆記
Only works with a fixed set of prepositions: within, past, above, below, before, after, beyond, outside, over, under. Does not work with at, in, on, by, for, from.
4. used before a small group of adjectives to intensify their meaning — most common
used before a small group of adjectives to intensify their meaning — most commonly with aware, able, worth, pleased, and familiar.
Amani is well aware of the challenges that come with starting a new business.
well + aware (common fixed phrase)
This small art museum is well worth a visit if you are in the area.
well + worth (recommendation pattern)
The children were well pleased with the surprise birthday party their uncle organised.
Asher is well able to take care of the dog on his own now.
Mizuki is well familiar with the train system in Tokyo after living there for years.
文法句型
well + adjective (aware, able, worth, pleased, familiar)
用法筆記
Restricted to a closed set of adjectives. 'Well happy', 'well tired', 'well sad' are non-standard in formal English (see sense 5 for the informal equivalent). The most common combinations are well aware, well able, well worth, well pleased, and well familiar.
常見錯誤
5. used in informal speech, especially in British English, as a strong intensifier
used in informal speech, especially in British English, as a strong intensifier meaning 'very' — often with adjectives of quality or degree.
Caleb said the new skatepark was well cool and we should go on Saturday.
well + cool (informal intensifier pattern)
That music at the festival was well loud — my ears are still ringing today.
David's motorbike is well fast and he loves taking it on long rides.
Eliska thought the horror film was well scary and hid behind her hands.
文法句型
well + adjective (informal intensifier)
用法筆記
Strictly informal speech — do not use in academic or professional writing. More common among younger speakers in the UK. The adjective following 'well' is usually a simple positive/negative quality word (cool, good, fast, loud, scary, difficult).
常見錯誤
6. used after modal verbs (might, may, could) to emphasise that a feeling, opinion,
used after modal verbs (might, may, could) to emphasise that a feeling, opinion, or reaction is reasonable and deserved given the circumstances — not just possible, but expected or justified.
The villagers might well be anxious after the recent floods destroyed their homes.
might + well + be (predicting justified reaction)
Given the evidence, the judge may well decide to hold another trial.
You may well ask why nobody told the school about the gas leak.
The Watanabes could well be right about the cause of the engine problem.
After working twelve hours a day, Ari felt he might well deserve a long holiday.
- probably
more neutral, lacks the nuance of 'justified reaction'
- understandably
captures the justification aspect better than probability
- doubtless
more formal and certain in tone
文法句型
might/may/could + well + verb
subject + well + verb (rare, literary)
用法筆記
Distinct from adverb/8 (PROBABLY): adverb/6 focuses on a justified reaction or deserved feeling ('may well be upset'), while adverb/8 focuses on neutral likelihood ('may well rain'). 'Might well' and 'may well' are common in both speech and writing. 'Could well' is also frequent. The construction emphasises that the situation is understandable given the circumstances.
常見錯誤
7. used to mean "also" or "too," adding an extra item, person, or idea to something
used to mean "also" or "too," adding an extra item, person, or idea to something already mentioned.
Wren ordered fried rice, and Walid ordered noodles as well.
as well at end of clause
Élise speaks French as well as Japanese fluently.
as well as + noun phrase
Faisal helped decorate the hall, and Devika helped as well.
The market sells fresh vegetables and has a fish stall as well.
- also
more neutral and can appear in different positions within a sentence
- too
interchangeable with as well but can also come directly after the subject
- additionally
more formal; common in written and business contexts
文法句型
as well (at end of clause)
as well as + noun / gerund
用法筆記
The phrase as well is always placed at the end of the clause, unlike too which can appear mid-clause. as well as can also act as a conjunction meaning 'and in addition,' linking two parallel elements.
常見錯誤
8. used with modal verbs (may, might, could) to say that something has a strong cha
used with modal verbs (may, might, could) to say that something has a strong chance of being true or happening.
The train may well be delayed because of the heavy snow.
may well + passive verb
Mizuki might well choose to study in Canada next year.
might well + verb
The kitchen repairs could well cost more than a new stove.
If the traffic is not too bad, we could well arrive before dinner.
文法句型
may well + base verb
might well + base verb
could well + base verb
用法筆記
Distinguish from adverb/6 (WITH GOOD REASON): adverb/8 is about neutral probability ('may well rain', 'could well cost more'), while adverb/6 is about a justified or deserved outcome ('may well be upset'). Most common with may, might, and could. 'Can well' is not idiomatic in this sense.
常見錯誤
9. in a way that shows material comfort and enough money to live without serious fi
in a way that shows material comfort and enough money to live without serious financial worries.
After years of saving, the Okafor family now lives quite well.
live well
Gabriel's grandparents were never rich, but they lived well on their pension.
Alessia invested her savings wisely and has done well for herself.
The coastal village was poor, but the fishing families still managed to live well.
- comfortably
broader — can describe ease in any area, not just finances
- prosperously
more formal; suggests growing wealth rather than stable sufficiency
- affluently
implies a higher level of wealth than well; suggests luxury
- poorly
the direct opposite in terms of material living conditions
文法句型
live well
do well (financially)
be well off
用法筆記
Describes a comfortable standard of living, not extreme wealth. Often paired with verbs about lifestyle: live well, do well for oneself. The opposite concept is expressed by live poorly or scrape by.
常見錯誤
well — exclamation
1. a word you say when you are very surprised, shocked, or doubtful about something
a word you say when you are very surprised, shocked, or doubtful about something someone has just said or done
Well — I never thought I would see you working in a library, Ilan!
well + full sentence expressing surprise at a situation
Well, well, well! Look who finally decided to join us for dinner!
repeated 'well' for dramatic surprise
Obi said the exam was cancelled. Well — that explains why he looks so relaxed today!
Well, what a coincidence meeting you here at the night market, Putri!
Well! I certainly did not expect that ending to the movie.
文法句型
well + statement expressing reaction
用法筆記
Pronunciation is key: a rising-falling intonation on 'well' signals genuine surprise. Repeating it ("Well, well, well…") adds dramatic effect and often a hint of mild disapproval or teasing.
常見錯誤
2. a word you say while you pause to think about what to say next, especially when
a word you say while you pause to think about what to say next, especially when you are unsure or need time to organize your thoughts
Well... I am not sure if Friday works for the party.
well + pause (...) before expressing uncertainty
Let me think — well, maybe we should ask Min about the plan first.
Well, the thing is, I forgot to bring the keys to the office.
Valentina asked me why I was late. Well, where do I even begin?
Well, I suppose we could try the restaurant on Moonlight Street instead.
- um / uh
less polished; 'well' sounds more considered and controlled
- let me see
longer and more explicit about the thinking process
文法句型
well + pause (...) + statement
用法筆記
In this sense 'well' is a hesitation filler, similar to 'um' or 'uh' but more socially acceptable in formal contexts. It gives the speaker a moment to gather thoughts. In writing, it is often followed by an ellipsis (...) or a comma.
常見錯誤
3. a word you say to accept a situation or admit that someone else is right, even i
a word you say to accept a situation or admit that someone else is right, even if you are not entirely happy about it
Well, you might be right about the deadline after all.
well + statement admitting another person is correct
Oh well — there is nothing we can do about the rain now.
oh well + acceptance of an unavoidable situation
Well, okay — I can see why Élise was upset about the decision.
Christopher said we should take the train. Well, I suppose that makes sense.
Well, if you put it that way, I have to agree with you, Nala.
文法句型
well + statement conceding a point
oh well + clause of acceptance
用法筆記
Often combines with 'oh' ("Oh well") when the speaker is accepting disappointment or an irreversible situation. The tone can range from genuine acceptance to reluctant surrender depending on intonation.
4. a word you say to return to an earlier topic, continue a story after an interrup
a word you say to return to an earlier topic, continue a story after an interruption, or move a conversation forward
Well, as I was saying before the phone rang, the project needs more time.
well + 'as I was saying' to resume after interruption
Well then — shall we get back to discussing the budget?
well then + question to redirect conversation
Well, anyway — after all that drama, let me tell you what happened next.
Well now — that brings me to my next point about the team, Romi.
Well, Nila told me the whole story. Apparently the bus broke down twice!
文法句型
well + anyway/so/then + resumed topic
well + as I was saying
用法筆記
In this role 'well' acts like a signpost, telling the listener that you are steering the conversation somewhere. It commonly pairs with 'then,' 'anyway,' 'now,' or 'so.' Avoid overusing this in writing — it is primarily a spoken conversation marker.